The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-12-21
ELSIE,S GIFT.
BY LUKE SHARP.

BY LUKE SHARP.
The burglar ran the bright disc of his
dark lantern along the mantel shelf and
then placed together some of the trnkets
he found there. II know you," cried out
a mellow childish voice from the corner of
the room.
The masked man was so startled that he
almost dropped his lantern, but with the
quick instinct of criminal he grasped and
cooked his revolver and turned the lantern
toward the sound.
Its briget circle of light shone on the wall
like the illumination of a magic lantern and
in the centre of it was prettier picture
than ever magic lantern exhibited It
was little child of or 7 years sitting up
in her cot. Her eyes were dazzled with
the light of the lantern, but they sparkled
with merriment. Her long curls fell over her
shoulders on the white embroidered little
night dress.
The burglars revolver dropped to his
side.
''You know me?" he said.
"YeS. You're Santa Claus. tried to keep
awake last time, but l couldn't. I think I
was asleep this time when you came, but
walked up just i'm time, didn't I?'
The burglar didn't seem to know what
to say.
Ibid you just come down the chimney?
Won't you turn around that light so that 1
can see you? 1t hurts my eyes. I never
saw a light like that l didn't know you
NEEDED light. Do you ALWAYS have
one?''
Yes generally. Hadn't you better go
to sleep again?"
''Oh, no. 1 want to see what you
brought Did you know l was bad the
other day? I've been awful good ever
since, and mamma sale. d..she thought perhaps
if I kept on being good all the time that
perhaps you would forget about THAT
time. DID you forget?''
Il forgot all about it. Where is your
mamma and papa?"
''Oh, didn't you know there was party
at Mrs. Hammond's? Yes. It's Christ
mas Eve party. They were going to take
me, but they thought that l would fall
asleep. Mamma says get cross when l
wake up"
You don't seem very cross now"
''Oh. not when Pm RIGHT awake but
just wien Pm not quite awake"
Ibid they leave you here all alOne?'
''Oh, no; Katy was to wait up with me,
but l guess she is down in the kitchen.
She'll be disappointed when she knows you
were here. Katy's going to hang up HER
stocking. too. Are you going to put any,
thing in it?''
Il don't think she deserves anything
when she left you alone"
'Oh, think you might put something
In or she'll be awful disappointed. and then
you could put in potato for leaving me
alone. Wrap it up in lots of pieces of
paper so she'll have to wind and wind be.
fore she comes to it. Won't you turn the
light round so that can see you?"
81 don't think you would care to see me,
but I'll turn the light away so it won't hurt
your eyes. There now."
ooh, can see you little. You haven {
a long white beard. What is that over
your faces You're not bit like SAINTS
Claus-you frighten me-"
''YoN mustn't be frightened, my little bet.
Nobody would hurt YOU. IN take that
off,
'<Ael, does it COME off? What is it for?
Oh know-it is so the SCOT in the CHM
9leS won't hurt your eyes,"
'"That's it. l had sweet little girl like
you once-a. long time ago. Perhaps if
She hadn't you better go ito sleep now?''
II didn't know Santa had little girl
OF his own. Is that why'you bring things
to little girls?" .rss- - -
''YeS. that's the reason. Now you must
lie down again and try'togo sleep-thats a